Highlights of Le Marche: Italy Small Group Tour

Detailed itinerary

Meals Included: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

Day 1 Pesaro (D)

Your tour leader will meet the group in the hotel foyer at 1600. Introductions and a small talk on the tour will precede a leisurely walk exploring Pesaro and its treasures. The walk will include the ancient centre with its Ducal Palace, Piazza Del Popolo and the house of Gioachino Rossini: Pesaro’s famous composer and favourite son. There will also be a visit to the world-famous music school, founded by Rossini: The Rossini Conservatoire hosts artists and musicians from all over the world. A visit to several important churches housing some fabulous artworks is also included. Seafood dinner by the sea in a traditional restaurant.

Day 2 Pesaro/Gradara (BL)

Today, after breakfast the group will explore some of the hidden gems of the City of Pesaro visiting the Civic Museum, the National Museum of Rossini and dropping in to a local artisan workshop famous for its Majolica ceramics. The morning is about enjoying life in a regional environment and getting to know the local people going about their daily lives. Lunch is organised in a traditional trattoria famous for its local produce. In the afternoon we visit Gradara: a medieval town dominated by its magnificent castle which overlooks the Adriatic Sea. The group will have a tour of the castle and the impressive walled town. Gradara was made famous by Italy’s famous poet, Dante from his works including “Inferno”, a literature piece dating back to the 14th Century, relaying the tragic love affair which occurred in this castle. Free evening.

Day 3 Pesaro/Ascoli Piceno (BL)

Today we travel and explore the town of Ascoli Piceno visiting the historical centre. We visit two of the most significant town squares: Piazza del Popolo, with its travertine pavement and 13th century Palazzo as well as Piazza Arringo. These two squares are considered some of the most renowned and beautiful in all of Italy. The Civic Picture Gallery, decorated with Murano glass chandeliers and housing paintings by Titian and Crivelli, is an important place to visit together with the Cathedral of St Emidio with some spectacular mosaics. Lunch will be at a famous eatery in the centre of the City.

Day 4 Pesaro/San Marino/San Leo (BL)

After Breakfast, the group will travel just over the Le Marche border for a day visit to the tiny Republic of San Marino which claims to be the oldest state and constitutional republic in the world. It is worth a visit for its history, pageantry and its magnificent hilltop setting, which offers excellent views of the surrounding countryside and the sea. In the afternoon, we will visit the nearby hill town of San Leo with its medieval castle perched above sheer cliffs. We will rest in the town square for a light lunch and taste the delicious formaggio di fossa: a cheese walled up in rock caves to mature for months. Free evening in Pesaro.

Day 5 Pesaro/Loreto/Recanati (BD)

Today is an excursion to see the spectacular nearby towns of Loreto and Recanati. Loreto, our first stop is a beautiful hill-town second only to Assisi and Rome as a place of religious pilgrimage. The town and its magnificent cathedral are a showcase of ingenious architecture and houses many artistic treasures. In the afternoon there is a visit to the city of Recanati which was the birthplace of Giacomo Leopardi, Italy’s greatest romantic poet. We visit the museum in Villa Colloredo-Melson on the outskirts of town which houses the greatest art treasures of Recanati and a room with four of Lorenzo Lotto’s finest pictures. Dinner will be in a local restaurant in Pesaro.

Day 6 Pesaro/Urbino (BL)

Today you will explore the land once ruled by the medieval lords of Montefeltro. We visit Urbino, which after Florence, was one of the most important centres of the Italian Renaissance and also the birthplace of Raphael. There will be a tour of the magnificent Ducal Palace which houses the Galleria Nazionale Delle Marche with its precious paintings by Piero Della Francesca, Tiziano, Paolo Uccello and Raphael. Lunch will be at a typical osteria which serves regional specialties and local wine varietals. We then make our way back to Pesaro for a free evening at your leisure.

Day 7 Pesaro/Jesi (BD)

The group explore one of the picturesque hill-towns of Le Marche: Jesi. A local guide will lead the group on a leisurely walk through some of the historical sites of the centre of the city, including the boutique theatre. After lunch in a traditional eatery, will be a visit to an award-winning family winery in one of the premier white wine-growing regions of Italy, famous for Verdicchio. Farewell dinner in a traditional restaurant in Pesaro.

Day 8 Pesaro (B)

The tour ends after breakfast at the hotel.